VINCENT Salcedo, a pride of Barangay Bulua, made sure that the local chess contingent won't go home empty-handed after he racked up five-straight wins in the ongoing 2010 National Age-Group Chess Championships at NCCC Mall Atrium in Davao City.
Salcedo's fifth-round win was exacted against no less than Dennis Gutierrez Jr., among last year's RP qualifiers to the 10th Asean Youth in Hue, Vietnam.
And with only two rounds left, Salcedo is already guaranteed of a top-3 finish or a "sure berth" to the Subic Bay Asean this coming June apart from positioning his self to a virtual title finish in 10-under boys division.
"In the bag na iyang pag-qualify sa Subic Bay. Mora'g wala na say makapugong sa iya in as far as securing the 10-under boys title is concerned," National Master Levi Mercado told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro via text messaging.
Salcedo's compatriots Adrian Othniel Yulo from Xavier University Grade School and Kennard Troy Ibaoc from Corpus Christi Grade School are still also contending for a top-3 seats in same bracket as they're just one point off from the second-running group.
Meanwhile, a wide-open race ensued in a thrilling hunt for top-3 in premier 20-under boys category after RTU (Rizal Technology University) standout Richelieu Salcedo III crushed Erwin Tubog Jr.; Alfredo Rapanot Jr. downed Far Eastern University (FEU) teammate Antonio Chavez Jr. and incoming FEU college freshman Lennon Hart Salgados yielded to solo pacesetter Joseph Mari Turqueza of La Salle on Tuesday morning's tense-filled board one tussle.
Inspite of this, the CDO-Misor's top junior acts remain in the upper part of the country's junior rivalry with Rapanot's (5 pts) turn to test the mettle of the now black-wielding Turqueza (5.5 pts) in Round 7.
Salcedo (5 pts) also plays black with Nelson Mariano III (4 pts) on the second board, while Salgados -- the youngest junior in the 41-man field at 16 -- trades pieces with fellow 4-pointer Deo Sandro Ladion on board 3.
The other 4-pointers Chavez and fellow Kagay-anon Francisco Porras II -- who bounced back with victory over Adrian Acas in Round 6 -- were pitting wits with Davao's Adrian Dimakiling and Alain Llanos, respectively.
"Kulbahinam kaayo sa junior division kay dikit-dikit ang skor wala pay makasiguro kay crucial kaayo ang last three rounds. But we're optimistic of our chances kay lima (Salcedo, Rapanot, Salgados, Chavez, Porras) pa sila nga nabilin na kombate pa kaayo sa top boards," said CDO-Asset coach Lorenzo "Jun" Cuizon.
Among the locals left with good chances of landing in the top 3 in each bracket are Chezter Jason Coquilla and Keith Ibaoc, one point off the leader in Boys 16; Ven Christian Salcedo (just half a point behind) and Harold Taganas (one point off) in Boys 14 as well as Tristan Frech Ibaoc in Boys 12.
Overcoming a bad start, Julie Anne Opema of Merry Child School and Diane Kaye Elizondo of Liceo de Cagayan University are fast inching their way for a point deficit in Girls 12, while Sittie Halia Sabo of Xavier University and Honey Grace Baclayo of Merry Child Grade School are now both trailing by two points in the distaff side's Girls 20 and Girls 10, respectively. (LLS)